Joseph Smith's unexpected death created a crisis as to who would lead the church. Several assumed power which caused the
church to split.

Some of the more notable movements.

James Strang

Claiming that Joseph said he would be the successor, some followed Mormon elder James Strang, including three of the twelve apostles, eight of the Book of Mormon witnesses and Joseph's own mother Lucy Mack Smith. Like Joseph Smith,
Strang claimed to have also translated plates. This movement exists today as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Some believed that Joseph's son, Joseph Smith III, should be his successor. This movement became the Reorganized Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 2001 it was renamed the Community of Christ.

Some followed senior apostle Brigham Young, who migrated his
followers to Utah. This movement has grown to become the largest, claiming a global membership of 14 million. It is this
organization: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that is the focus of the Mormon Handbook.

Various smaller groups split after Joseph's death. In 1863 five branches along with John E. Page, an apostle under Joseph
Smith, united under the leadership of Granville Hedrick. This church owns the temple lot spoken of in Joseph Smith's New Jerusalem prophecy.

David Whitmer was one of the Book of Mormon's Three Witnesses. On July
7, 1834, when Joseph Smith ordained Whitmer as the president of the Missouri church, he also named Whitmer his successor.
After Joseph's death, Whitmer formed a church (Church of Christ) to accommodate those disillusioned with Sidney Rigdon, which
included Mormon apostle William E. M'Lellin and seventy
Benjamin Winchester. This church dissolved in the 1960s.